The Japanese Space Agency “JAXA” announced the first steps in planning to visit Mars. Said plans include an unmanned mission to the Moon.

According to PhysOrg, these plans were announced during the Japanese cabinet meeting.

However, an Agency official clarified that this is only a first step and that there is a lot of time until the final plan is formally approved.

Japan will be following in the footsteps of the US, Russia, and China, which have already dispatched or are planning to send unmanned vehicles to the Moon.